Thank you for your interest in the School Nursing options offered at Wright State University. In the State of Ohio, licensure for School Nurses is required and our programs at Wright State University will leave you prepared with the credentials needed to practice as a School Nurse.
Wright State University is proud to unveil the new program changes that were based upon a comprehensive program assessment, feedback from our students, the increasing complexity and role of the School Nurse as well as recent legislation from Governor Strickland’s House Bill 1. Our programs at Wright State University have been designed to appeal to the adult learner and are highly innovative. Feedback from students indicates that our certificate program is convenient as it is offered mainly online and gets them ready to assume the responsibilities of school nursing licensure. Our students in the Master of Science degree program enjoy classes that are offered in the evening throughout the year as well as online. We have had well over 150 individuals complete our school nurse licensure program in the past few years. December 2001 marked the date of our first graduation for students receiving a Master of Science degree in Nursing (M.S.) with a School Nurse concentration in the College of Nursing and Health.
Wright State University-Miami Valley College of Nursing and Health recognizes the importance of health in the entire school community including children, staff, parents, and families. The programs at Wright State University were developed to meet the needs of registered nurses to be licensed as school nurses through our graduate certificate program and for those wanting to assume a leadership role in the profession through our Master of Science degree in Nursing with a concentration in School Nursing. Some coursework from the certificate-only programs can also be applied toward the Master of Science degree. You can read about the requirements for the master's degree program and the certificate program in the following paragraphs.
For more information about School Nursing you can go to http://www.nasn.org or http://www.oasn.org
MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN NURSING
WITH A CONCENTRATION IN SCHOOL NURSING
The Master of Science Degree in Nursing with a concentration in School Nursing is a 59.5 graduate credit hour program, including classroom and clinical experiences. The curriculum includes core courses, which build a foundation for master's level nursing practice, and specialty courses. Nurses who complete the M.S. program will meet the requirements for Ohio's school nurse licensure. Applications are accepted on a year round basis. Once accepted into the program, students need to meet with their faculty advisor for approval at the start of their program of study.
Requirements for admission:
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from an NLN or AACN accredited institution or admission into the Bridge Program in the College of Nursing and Health for registered nurses with a degree in a field other than nursing.
- Admission to Wright State University School of Graduate Studies.
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in undergraduate program.
- Current Ohio RN license.
- Once student is in the program, a statistics course completed within five years is a pre-requisite of NUR 707 (Research).
Directions for Applying to the School Nursing Master's Program:
- Complete the School of Graduate Studies application for admission (download application from http://www.wright.edu/sogs)
- Submit a $25 non-refundable fee to the School of Graduate Studies
- Submit official transcripts from ALL colleges attended (must be sent to the School of Graduate Studies)
- Include a copy of your Ohio RN License
- Include a copy of your current CPR certification
- Under “Academic Information” indicate
- Admission status: Degree
- Desired degree: M.S.
- Selected program: M.S. in Nursing Concentration in School Nursing
- Major/Concentration: School Nurse 494
- A Statement of Objectives should consist of at least a 250-word essay clarifying your career goals.
Submit all materials including official transcripts to:
Wright State University
School of Graduate Studies
E344 Student Union
Dayton, OH 45435
Once you have sent all your application materials to the School of Graduate Studies, we will receive a copy of your file from Graduate Studies. If you meet all the criteria listed above for the program, we will then approve your acceptance to the School of Graduate Studies. You will then receive notification of the decision. If you are accepted, you will then need to make an appointment with your Program Director to determine your plan of study.
MS Program Coursework
Total credits for the Masters of Science degree in Nursing with a concentration in School Nursing =59.5 credits
Both core courses and specialty courses are included in the Master of Science Program. The core courses build a foundation for master level nursing practice and are taken by all students in the CONH master's programs.
Core Courses
NUR 708 Theoretical Foundations Nursing 4 credits
NUR 750 Health Policy, Politics & Issues 3 credits
NUR 751 Health & Well-Being 2 credits
NUR 755 Informatics in Health Care 2 credits
NUR 756 Concepts of Nursing Leadership 3 credits
NUR 707 Research Design & Methods 4 credits
NUR 788 or 798 or 799 Thesis/Research Applications/Scholarly Project or Research Experience 3 credits
STT 591 Advanced Statistical Methods for Nursing Research 0.5 credits (for thesis option only)
School Nurse Concentration Courses
NUR 716 Advanced Practice of Family Nursing 2 credits
NUR 763 Epidemiology 2 credits
NUR 770 Community/Public Health Nursing I (lecture only) 2 credits
NUR 765 Child/Adol Pathophysiology or NUR 761 Advanced Pathophysiology 3 credits
NUR 766 Child/Adol Assessment or NUR 762 Advanced Health Assessment 3 credits
NUR 764 Applied Pharmacology or NUR 769 Applied Pharmacology for Pediatrics 3 credits
NUR 640 School Nursing 5 credits
NUR 641 Children with Special Needs 3 credits
NUR 744 School Nurse Practicum 6 credits
NUR 745 Advances in School Nursing Practicum 5 credits
EDL 873 Pupil Personnel Services Administration 4 credits
Contact Information:
We are located in the College of Nursing and Health at Wright State University in University Hall. Directions to WSU can be found at http://www.wright.edu/aboutwsu/maps/index.html Please call or email the program secretary, Ms. Teri Houston at 937-775-3577 or teresa.houston@wright.edu for additional information or with updated information for the mailing list.
Program Faculty Contact Information:
Dr. Susan Praeger, APRN, BC, FNASN, NCSN, (until February 2010)
College of Nursing & Health
128 University Hall
Wright State University
3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy.
Dayton, OH 45435
susan.praeger@wright.edu
937-775-2594
Jeanie Bochenek M.S., NCSN (after February 2010)
College of Nursing & Health
115 University Hall
Wright State University
3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy.
Dayton, OH 45435
jeanine.bochenek@wright.edu
937-775-3195
SCHOOL NURSE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
The school nurse certificate program is offered mainly during the summer and fall in an intensive format. Classes use both lecture, online and seminar format to meet your needs as an adult learner. The practicum portion of this program is typically completed in the fall.
The School Nurse Certificate Programs is a non-degree program that is a collaborative offering between the College of Nursing and Health and the College of Education and Human Services leading to endorsement for licensure as a School Nurse in Ohio. Applications are due to the School of Graduate Studies before beginning your course work. Applications received after March 30th for the first time will be reviewed on a space available basis.
Requirements for admission:
- Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college. The degree does not need to be in nursing.
- A copy of current Ohio RN License submitted with application. If you are not planning on taking the practicum course or are planning your practice out of state, please send your current state license.
- Evidence of courses in community health nursing, family, growth and development, health and wellness and a nursing assessment course** within the past 5 years.
- Undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale.
Directions for Applying to the School Nursing Certificate Program:
- Complete the entire School of Graduate Studies application. The application can be found http://www.wright.edu/sogs
- Submit a $25 non-refundable one time fee to the School of Graduate Studies
- Submit official transcripts from ALL colleges attended (must be sent to the School of Graduate Studies)
- Include a copy of your Ohio RN License
- Include a copy of your current CPR certification
- Indicate the following under "Academic Information":
- Admission status: Certification
- Desired degree: leave blank
- Selected program: Certification Candidate
- Major/Concentration: School Nurse 242
- A Statement of Objectives which is a brief 250-word essay clarifying your career goals.
Submit all materials including official transcripts to:
Wright State University
School of Graduate Studies
E344 Student Union
Dayton, OH 45435
** For those students needing a recent nursing assessment course, WSU-College of Nursing and Health offers the following Graduate Level nursing courses that would meet the requirements for the School Nurse Certification Program and the MS with a concentration in School Nursing.
Nursing Assessment Class Information for 2010
NUR 762 (3 credits) Fall 2009, Spring 2010, Fall 2010
NUR 766 (3 credits) Winter 2010
SCHOOL NURSE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM- 16 CREDITS
NUR 640 School Nursing -5 credits (Summer)
NUR 641 Children with Special Needs - 3 credits (Summer)
NUR 643 School Nurse Practicum -8 credits (Fall)
Summer & Fall Quarters 2010
NUR 640 (5 credits) -Summer Quarter
This course consists of online lectures, readings, online discussion, online classroom presentations, online case study assignments and online quizzes. Class times will be primarily online with specified synchronous meetings times during the first 2 weeks of the quarter. The first day only will be an on campus meeting time TBA.
June 14-25 (C term registration)
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
NUR 641 (3 credits) –Summer Quarter
This course is offered entirely online. Online lectures, online quizzes and case study assignments comprise the experiences in this course.
NUR 643 (8 credits) -Fall Quarter
School nurse practicum seminars are planned throughout fall term. Your practicum site will be approved by faculty and you will be supervised by school nursing faculty. We will have weekly evening synchronous online meetings, online classroom assignments/presentation, online exam and possible on-campus meetings on selected Saturdays. TBA
Contact Information:
We are located in the College of Nursing and Health at Wright State University in University Hall. Directions to WSU can be found at http://www.wright.edu/aboutwsu/maps/index.html
Please call or email the program secretary, Ms. Teri Houston at 937-775-2576 or teresa.houston@wright.edu for additional information or to be added to the mailing list.
Program Faculty Contact Information:
Dr. Susan Praeger, APRN, BC, FNASN, NCSN Professor (until February 2010)
College of Nursing & Health
128 University Hall
Wright State University
3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy.
Dayton, OH 45435
susan.praeger@wright.edu
937-775-2594
Jeanie Bochenek M.S., NCSN (after February 2010)
College of Nursing & Health
115 University Hall
Wright State University
3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy.
Dayton, OH 45435
jeanine.bochenek@wright.edu
937-775-3195
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How much does this program cost?
Refer to the Registrar website at http://www.wright.edu/registrar/register.html for instructions on registering for classes at Wright State University and refer to the Bursar’s Office for information regarding fees at http://www.wright.edu/bursar/costsfees/cohort3_main.html. In addition to the application fee, you need to plan for tuition fees, course packets and texts. If you have previously applied for admission and been accepted to a graduate program at W.S.U., you do not need to send an additional application fee. Tuition rates vary depending on whether you are enrolled full time (11 - 18 hours) or part time (less than 11 hours). The fees and tuition may change by the time you enroll. You are responsible for the fee that is in effect for the quarter you take classes. Students enrolled for less than 11 hours are currently assessed a fee based on quarter hour credits.
Do I need to have a computer to attend this program?
You will need to have access to a computer throughout the program as this is needed for class work, communication and assignments. You will also need to purchase a headset with earphones and microphone using a USB connector for online course meetings. The campus has 24-hour accessible computer labs for enrolled students. Campus mail and web based courses are available through the Internet. Please check your local resources, such as schools and libraries if you do not have a computer and high-speed internet access at home. Computer use is an important part of the program. You can call the Help Desk in the Computing and Telecommunications Services (937-775-4827) or visit their web site at http://www.cats.wright.edu for information about computing services on campus. If you are planning on enrolling in web-based courses please visit http://www.wright.edu/dl for computer requirements.
Are any of the courses designed for distance learning?
NUR 640 & NUR 641 are designed as web-enhanced courses during the summer and have been offered as online courses. This means that lectures, tests and assignments may be online as part of the summer intensive program. There are selected times for discussion and group work in the classroom setting and a few classroom lectures, The fall practicum (NUR 643/744, and/or NUR 745) requires participation in online seminars. There may also be class assignments that will be done through the Internet. Almost all of the courses in the Master of Science degree program are available at this time as web-based courses on a space available basis throughout the academic year except for NUR 770, and NUR 766.
Will I be able to plan a vacation during the summer program?
The course work is very intense during the summer and fall and you must meet all of the course objectives, assignments and exams. The program was designed this way based on previous student feedback. You are expected to attend and review all class sessions. Earning graduate credit entails reading and preparation outside of the classroom experience. You will need to plan your summer schedule so that you have adequate time for study, attending classes, preparing assignments, studying for examinations and rest. Over the years, we have found that students who work, travel or experience additional family responsibilities during the time when classes are in session tend to have lower grades and experience more stress than students who are able to focus on their course work.
If I am already a school nurse, can I get credit for my experience?
If you have had graduate courses you can petition to have us review your transcripts to see if your coursework meets our program requirements. All students, regardless of experience, are required to enroll in a supervised practicum. Your previous work experience as a school nurse will not be counted as graduate credit.
What courses do I need to take if I want to get my master's degree with a concentration in school nursing, but first I'd like to get my school nurse license?
Courses required for the Master of Science degree with a concentration in school nursing include a 700-level health assessment course and two 700-level practicum courses. You cannot take the 700-level practicum course until most of your master's degree course work requirements are met. If you decide to complete all of the requirements for licensure first, NUR 643, the school nurse practicum in the certificate program, will not meet the degree requirements for the Master of Science degree program. You will need to enroll in both NUR 745-5 credits and NUR 744-6 credits at the end of your master's program. School of Graduate Studies policies guide the timing and acceptance of credits completed at other universities.
Why would I want to pursue a Master of Science degree with a concentration in school nursing?
Being prepared as a School Nurse with a master’s degree assures that you are prepared for leadership in your role and in the profession with the advanced theory and skills needed for this challenging role. Standards for professional licensure of personnel in schools currently lean toward preparation at the master's degree. In order to be an equal member of the educational team, it is important that you be prepared with similar credentials. In addition to the professional education and recognition that you gain, many school districts determine employee compensation based on educational preparation. This could mean higher salary and retirement benefits for you.
Will completion of the school nurse certificate program mean that I am a school nurse in Ohio?
No. When you complete the certificate programs you will be eligible for Ohio licensure as a school nurse. You will be assisted in completing the required paperwork for licensure and your application will be endorsed. The certificate from Wright State University is not the same as the license from the Ohio Board of Regents. The certificate indicates that you have completed an approved program of study. The license indicates approval to practice by a regulatory agency.
Are there additional costs that I should anticipate?
When planning on returning back to school, you need to plan on fees associated with course materials, such as texts and printing course handouts. With the recent changes to our school nurse programs, meeting on campus is very minimal so you won’t have driving, parking and food costs associated with on-campus courses. Some students need to anticipate the impact of the loss of potential income while in school during the summer because of the demands and challenges of working and studying during summer months. Others need to plan for the additional expense of childcare. Each student's financial needs are individual and must be planned for accordingly. All students will be assessed a one-time TK20 fee of $100 upon admission to the program. See the CEHS web site for more information. All students will also be assessed a $50 charge for enrollment in the school nurse practicum courses of NUR 643 and NUR 744.
Are there scholarships available for students?
There are several sources of information that are available to students seeking financial aid. You can contact the WSU Office of Financial Aid to determine your eligibility for support. You may be eligible for University scholarships, which are highly competitive, if you are enrolled in the Master of Science degree program. The College of Nursing and Health has an endowed scholarship for school nurse students which is awarded each year. Information will be sent to all enrolled students. Fellowships and graduate assistantships may be available to students enrolled in the master's degree program. Contact the Office of Student Affairs for more information. Your professional organizations, especially the Ohio Association of School Nurses, may have scholarship money available to members.
Do I have to do a practicum if I am an experienced school nurse?
Yes. All students complete 8-11 quarter credit hours of practicum. Faculty from WSU make site visits to supervise and evaluate your school nursing performance and offer suggestions for your practice and further professional growth. Ideally, you will be placed with an experienced and licensed school nurse during the practicum experience. For those students who are employed full-time as a school nurse, you will be required to have an experienced and licensed mentor who will offer guidance and feedback during the experience. This person will need to be within a reasonable proximity to your work site. If you are employed in a district with more than one nurse, we will work with the district to identify an appropriate mentor from that system. For students unable to locate an appropriate mentor, we will work with you to identify appropriate school nurse experiences in other schools with experienced and licensed school nurses so that you are able to meet the course objectives. A seminar occurs concurrently with the practicum and gives students the opportunity to dialogue with other school nurses regarding problems encountered in the school setting. These learning experiences also give you an opportunity to see how school nurses in other districts confront similar problems with different approaches and ideas.
How much time am I expected to spend in the practicum?
You are expected to be in the school setting from Monday through Friday during normal school operating hours. This is at least a 10 week full-time practicum or a minimum of 300 practicum hours. The practicum begins and ends with Wright State University's fall quarter which ends before Thanksgiving. Some students extend the practicum over several quarters. We are willing to work with you to accommodate variations in this schedule, but a written plan must be approved prior to the start of the practicum.
Can the courses in the 16 hour School Nurse certificate program or the MS degree with a concentration in School Nursing be applied to a nurse practitioner degree at W.S.U.?
None of the courses in our school nurse certificate program meet the program requirements for a nurse practitioner degree at W.S.U. The majority of courses in the Master of Science degree with a concentration in School Nursing meet the core course program requirements for other majors in the college, including nurse practitioner courses. Please refer to specific program requirements in the College of Nursing and Health, or consult with an advisor in the Office of Student Affairs or contact susan.praeger@wright.edu or jeanine.bochenek@wright.edu for additional information. A matrix is available to help you identify what courses are needed if you decide to pursue a second concentration in the Master of Science degree program. Please review this with a faculty advisor to determine a plan for your program of study.
If I am enrolled in another school nurse preparation program, how can I take some of your courses at WSU?
Students interested in taking any graduate courses need to be accepted into the School of Graduate Studies at WSU. Application information is available at the website listed below. You must meet the same requirements as other students for enrolling in the courses. Students admitted to degree or certificate programs in the College of Nursing and Health are given preference for enrollment in courses when space availability is limited. In other words, you will be able to enroll in courses on a space available basis as long as you meet the course prerequisites and requirements for admission. Contact the instructor for permission.
Click here to request an application form.
To apply online: www.applyweb.com/aw?wrightg
To apply by mail: www.wright.edu/sogs/forms/index.html
